Advanced Business Writing

Why Attend

A simple email or letter can resolve a complex situation. This advanced business writing skills course emphasizes how a clear and concise message is the key to having powerful impact in today’s business world.

In this course, we start by outlining good practices in business writing. We then experiment with writing to address complex business scenarios and deal with difficult people. We explore the particularities and risks associated with business writing for social media platforms. Finally, we describe the interplay between the technical, emotional and political elements of a message.

Overview

Course Outline

Schedule & Fees

Course Methodology

This course uses a variety of learning tools including writing activities, story-boarding, controlled experiments and videos. The course also provides participants with complex situations which require written interventions.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Write effective emails, memos and letters
Use rules for organizing content in a clear and concise manner
Match writing complexity to the modern business environment
Apply advanced structuring techniques in writing that yields a desirable response
Identify and talk to their reader’s interests

Target Audience

All individuals with responsibilities requiring extensive business writing in the form of emails, memos and letters

Target Competencies

Written communication
Business writing etiquette
Structured thinking
Assertiveness
Ability to address complex situations
Reading between the lines

Advanced techniques for effective writing

Defining effective writing
Characteristics of effective writers
Understanding the hallmarks of effective communicators
Elements of written communication
Writing in a business context
Understanding your audience
Setting a purpose for your writing
Understanding sources of miscommunication
Tips for business writing

Organizing content

The 3 forms of communication
Using simple and specific language to avoid confusion
Using positive language
Applying rules for bullet points
Maintaining an impersonal style
Avoiding repetitions
Using active verbs to promote a response

Writing style

Adding a personal touch to business writing
Organizing paragraphs effectively
Using varied sentences
The 6 Cs of effective writing
Recognizing clichés and jargon
Applying the gunning fox index for writing complexity
Using visual aids to support text
Going the last inch: proof reading your work

Logical sequencing of ideas

Building your key message
Organizing the introduction, body and ending
Structuring ideas from the bottom up
Refining the flow from the top down
Drawing impeccable conclusions
Summarizing ideas effectively

Responding to complex situations through writing

Building rapport with your audience
Managing expectations: responding to bad news
Managing expectations: saying no
Effectively handing difficult individuals

Hostile: responding assertively
Pessimist: sticking to facts
Nagger: setting the rules
Mr. Know-it-all: staying focused
Egoist: getting descriptive
Manipulator: taking the initiative

Arusha

Arusha (Tanzania)2025-12-15$1975

Kampala

Kampala (Uganda)2026-03-23$2100